Top 10 Comics for the Week of 6/19/2019

Another week of comics as we near the halfway point of the year. A look to the future as soon I will also be doing my Top 20 Single issues of the year thus far as well. So look forward to that.

For now this week of my personal top 10 books of the week…

10. Mary Shelley: Monster Hunter #3

Writer: Adam Glass

Artist: Hayden Sherman

Publisher: Aftershock ComicsÂ

Description: Displeased with her first attempt at creating man, Victoria prepares to end the creature’s life mere moments after it began. Horrified, Mary convinces Victoria to allow her to educate Ad-am-as she names him-before making any rash decisions. Though the results of Mary’s work are astounding, the events that follow lead her to wish she had just let him die…

Why it Made the List:Â Mary Shelley: Monster Hunter may be a different take on the classic Frankenstein novel, however despite the varying story differences many of the original themes are beginning to show. For one looking at the folly of man“s hubris or in this case woman“s. What different is where the hubris is coming from with this story. Here it is more of a point of empathy for a living being rather than the bolstering of one“s own ego. Showing that even when intentions may be different the end will be the same when you try to play God.Â

9. Black Badge #11

Writer: Matt Kindt

Artist: Tyler Jenkins

Publisher: Boom! StudiosÂ

Description: As the current Black Badge team learns more about their predecessors, a rift grows between the two generations-one that could mean the end of the entire Scout program.

Why it Made the List: I am very much amazed this is not the last issue of this series with the amount that happens and the mysteries that are revealed. Makes me wonder if issue twelve will be more of an epilogue than a complete issue. Still, it is not like this was out of place or oddly paced. If anything it was one of the best put together issues of the series thus far. Answering many questions left looming and clearing up some of the more confusing aspects from past issues. Within that, you had some fun action scenes and a major return that was unexpected. This has long been about the unfair burden that is put upon to youth to carry the sins of previous generations. How younger generations suffer the costs and theÂ loss of innocence it has lead to is becoming more and more clear.Â

8. Farmhand #9

Writer/Artist: Rob Guillory

Colorist: Taylor Wells

Publisher: Image ComicsÂ

Description: Many vultures gather to dine on the corpse of the Jenkins Family Farm.

Why it Made the List: You have to give Rob Guillory major credit as he has called and shot and so far hit it. On each issue of Farmhand he has indicated the release date of each issue and unless next months gets delayed has not missed a date. While that has no impact on the book“s quality, considering how often series can be late it takes a lot of gall to do something like that. Being the writer and artist nearly everything is on him, and that pressure also gives him full control massive creative teams do not have. If there is one benefit to being a writer and artist it is in control of the book“s tone. This series walks so many tightropes being a part family drama, part horror story, and part comedy that a misstep in any direction could lead to the entire thing collapsing. By never diving too deep into one direction it moves fluidly from one moment to the next. Some of the body horror elements are horrific in design but not overly gruesome in execution. Everything always ties back to the family dilemma as well and instead of going the obvious way Guillory does something better. For example, there is a sequence here where Rob forgets to call his wife leading to a confrontation, however, instead, of playing up the melodrama it plays out in a real way. It is small touches like that among all the chaos that keeps this book grounded.Â

7. Middlewest #8

Writer: Skottie Young

Artist: Jorge Corona

Publisher: Image ComicsÂ

Description: Maggie“s band of nomads try to pick themselves up after a break in the storm. Meanwhile, Abel and the fox discover the forest they“ve been wandering in has been watching.

Why it Made the List: Eight issues into Middlewest and I am comfortable saying this is the best thing Skottie Young has ever written. I have loved I Hate Fairyland and even Bully Wars was fun. Plus his Marvel stuff has been solid. This though has a tragic core to it that is extremely well developed. The metaphor of child abuse and anger is obvious and that is part of the point. How it is handled is what makes it special. By creating conflicting moral dilemma like what do you do when someone is a danger to others despite themselves also being a victim? You can argue it is a callous move to protect others from their outrage in such a way, but at the same time, it may be irresponsible to do otherwise. The bar scene in this issue is particularly effective. We see the father get the physical justice he deserves and part of you wants to cheer as he is finally on the opposite end of a beat down. What it leads to are just more violence and more victims. Nothing is solved despite those fleeting moments of glee. You clearly cannot solve a problem by adding to it with the same action.Â

6. Hellboy and the BPRD: Beast of Vargu #1

Writer: Mike Mignola

Artist: Duncan Fegredo

Publisher: Dark HorseÂ

Description: Mike Mignola and fan-favorite artist Duncan Fegredo reunite in this all-new one-shot! This first issue in a new era of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. sees Mignola and Fegredo send Hellboy to Romania for a pair of tales set in a small village with a centuries-old curse and a man-eating monster which culminate in a sinister puppet show and a demigod’s ill-fated dinner.

Why it Made the List: Anytime Mike Mignola writes a Hellboy story it is worth your time. Obviously, he is at his best when doing the art as well, but if he is not going to do it Duncan Fegredo is a great substitute. You never get the sense he is just trying to redo what made Mignola“s work so memorable. Despite the countless issues and spinoffs of Hellboy they find new stories to tell. There are not many comics could finish with a puppet show and it actually works let alone be captivating. At this point, they clearly have no fear of going into strange and odd directions.Â

5. Gideon Falls #14

Writer: Jeff LemireÂ

Artist: Andrea Sorrentino

Publisher: Image Comics

Description: “STATIONS OF THE CROSS,”“ Part Three After a near-fatal encounter, Father Burke finds himself in “The Village,”“ an eerie place where the people seem to worship Norton Sinclair and leave him with more questions than answers”¦ at least until an old (and we mean REALLY old) Doctor shows up. HOLLYWOOD NEWS! Picked up for TV by Hivemind after a multi-studio bidding war with long-time producing partners Sean Daniel and Jason Brown, Bad Robot veteran Kathy Lingg, and former Valiant Entertainment CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.

Why it Made the List: There was a moment in time when I thought I had a sense of where exactly Gideon Falls was going. Then this current arc happened and the entire scope of the series has rapidly expanded in both time and space. Despite the lack of clarity, the keys to the book’s success so far have remained–the ability to build atmosphere and the downright insane art of Andrea Sorrentino and colorist Dave Stewart. When you need a book to look moody and full of dread Stewart is the exact person you call. His use of red and black within this series has been some of his best work. As this story has become more and more abstract Sorrentino“s art has expanded in its creative design and layouts. This story would not work without an artist of his ilk that can create stories within the art itself by the way he lays a page or designs his panels.Â

4. Livewire #7

Writer: Vita Ayala

Artist: Kano

Publisher: ValiantÂ

Description: The masterminds behind the Psiot Security and Education Program uncovered! Can Livewire save Phoebe and avoid being captured? Phoebe’s backstory is revealed!

Why it Made the List: Considering Livewire has been Valiant“s best book since its release it is surprising it took this long for her to get her own solo title. Perhaps if it happened earlier we would not have gotten the right creative team as Vita Ayala and Kano are pitch perfect for this series. They are sending her down this redemptive path where she continuously cannot get out of her own way, yet her spirit and will allow her to power through. How Kano is not a huge name in the world of comics I am not sure. Reading this issue the way Kano can put together a page and stage an action scene is as good as anyone in comics today. This is the type of story where you need to take time to soak in the art to fully appreciate it.Â

3. Little Bird #4

Writer: Darcy Van Poelgeest

Artist: Ian Bertram

Publisher: Image

Description: Held captive at New Vatican, Little Bird endures endless medical examinations to procure the “resurrection gene”“ for Bishop“s dying son. If Little Bird wants to escape this nightmare and save her people, she“ll first have to confront a dark family secret. The penultimate issue of the LITTLE BIRD saga contains 30 pages of story, and a pin-up gallery by a variety of artists.

Why it Made the List: So that ending was a bit dark. Little Bird is not the type of book you read that will give you faith in the future. Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram apparently rather enjoy giving you just the right bit of hope only to burn that hope to ashes in a stunning display of destruction. Throughout this series so far Little Bird and the Bishop“s son“s storylines have been on this collision course. Their history very much intertwined with one another as they sit at two very different points in this war. What has been one of this series strengths are the countless parallels this has to today“s society without being direct about those comparisons. Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram have created a world that is massive, complex, and intricate with how it functions. Although this series is ending shortly you get the sense you could revisit this world again and again as we have barely scratched the surface.Â

2. American Carnage #8

Writer: Bryand Edward HillÂ

Artist: Leandro Fernandez

Publisher: VertigoÂ

Description: Bullets fly and blood flows when Richard“s plan to exfiltrate one of Jennifer“s childhood friends from the white nationalist narcotics business goes awry. Meanwhile, Sheila“s new FBI overlord makes his move as DC Vertigo“s acclaimed Los Angeles crime saga continues in this stunning issue.

Why it Made the List: If the Vertigo imprint is coming to an end at least it will conclude on a high note as Amerian Carnage is the best series it has produced so the peak“s of Jason Aaron“s Scalped. Like Vertigo books of old, it breaks from convention to create great drama with a purpose. With one issue left the tension is at its highest with the fate of not only the characters but potentially the country at stake. You get the sense that this is the type of book that is not going to end in a hopeful manner. This series has looked at the underbelly of our society and willingly got its hands dirty. Bryand Edward Hill has indicated he is ending this book in large part due to how difficult this is to write and you can see why. There is a level of toxicity here that has to wear on you as a creator.Â

1, Daredevil #7Â

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma

Publisher: Marvel ComicsÂ

Description: In the aftermath of Chip Zdarsky“s explosive first arc of DAREDEVIL, the ground of Hell“s Kitchen has shifted and Matthew Murdock has emerged a changed man”¦but for better or worse? Don“t miss the second installment of this new arc: “No Gods, Only Devils”“!

Why it Made the List: (Full Review) The parallel stories of Mayor Fisk and Matthew Murdock compliment each other as contentment is placed against regret. Fittingly it is biblical in execution like a superhero parable about the importance of conviction to self and duty. Lalit Kumar Sharma“s art may not be as dynamic as Marco Checchetto when it comes to rendering creative action sequences, but the more tone down style of this story fits his work well due to his ability to render potent emotional moments. Since Chip Zdarsky took over Daredevil he has been one of Marvel“s best titles and issue number seven is one of the best issues yet.

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.